The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-29
TOMBSTONE
81 East WASHINGTON St.
POWELL'S SOUTHERN Ally.
Gov. Go rdon Addresses Ohio Democrats and
Tells How the South Loves the Negro.

CtNcINNATI Oct 29.--Gen. John B. Gordon.
Governor of Georgia, made his first speech in
Ohio tonight in the Democratic State cam
paign. 1t was at the Highland House esplanade,
to immense audience. Vindca,ing the
claim of ex rebels to loyalty. he said:
I'm the great city of Augusta. on an occasion
when we met to do honor to our dead comrades
about their graves, to cover them with flowers
1 said this, pointing to the banner of my coun-
try, which hung overhead: There hangs above
the flag of this Union: let us honor it
as en- bem of freedom. Of equality
and OF union: remembering that there is not a
star on its blue field which is not made brighter
by the light reflected from Southern skies; not
white line in its folds but is made whittier and
purer by that South's ipcorrupti BILE record in
office; not one of its crimson stripes that is not
deeper and richer from the Southern blood shed
in its defense in every war with foreign powers.
am not here to talk doctrines. I want to
say to you again. that before the guns had
ceased their terrible roar at Appomattox l began
this style of talk, and in the South. in the
Senate. in Boston, in Charleston, across the
Atlaptic-everywhere- have been appealing
for peace and unity and concord as the surest
legacy for our children to inherit. Applause
But my friends. Pm afraid I'm talking too
long. [Cries Of Go on, go on WE'LL will. and
/ will come to some more things to talk OF to
you. Let me mention another charge that has
been used with some effect 1 presume. in this
State charge sought to be fixed upon
the Northern mind to win votes against
there the Gsn is in Lei it Us rhs sss e1w charge "n'n is
that we oppressed the colored people, and have
you hear met lCries of 'Yes.1 These people
were in slavery. How they got there it is not
necessary for me TO say to night; history will
tell you about that We found it in our midst,
and it came to an institution. We love
those negroes. Do you believe that2 Let me
give you the facts about it. We love them, and
whyf They were part of our household; the
negro boys on my fathers plantation were the
playmates of my youth. The only fights that can
recall that had in my youth battles for
insults. as conceived them to be. to my colored
own place. to-day, out in the country, there is
not one white soul-not one My furniture, my
lands. my all, is in the hands to-day. and has
been ever since have been Governor. and was
while was in the Senate. in the hands Of
colorsd people. Who they2 My old servi-
tors. Among them is the old mamma (psrdon
ninety years of age. Upon her bosom slept.
seventy years ago. the mother of my
wife; later, my wife herself; later
and later still. my grsndchldrenWfour a' Seuera,
tIons. the memories of all lowering around that
dear old form. Why. sir. if you could have
the grievng of the wife of my BOSOM to
that decrepit old black woman. when she was
called to the bedside of that old black woman a
few weeks ago. when the old mamma was lying
i'll; ca the strongest ssss man. man among you
They have in their possession, these black
people, all I have in the world and I
feel as absolutely secure at this moment as
though / were down there, watching their every
act Did we Cypress them whom they were
slavesl 1t was law inexorable as the law
of the Medes and the Persians that the man who
treated his slaves uukindly was debarred de-
cent society. Applause Is that soa Well,
let come to the proof. We went to war.
some years ago, and some of you will remember
something about it. We had a fight
Every body knew / the SOnth
defeated those slaves would be made
free men and free women. and they knew
it. They wanted to be free; ON. yes there is no
doubt about that They longed for their free
dom. Were they oppressed2 If they had been
wouldn't they have struck for their freedom
when they could9 The North enlisted, and was
justified in doing It, few regiments of blacks
to fight against In the old South, IL we had
proclaimed their freedom at the beginning of
that war; We could have enlisted every one of
them, to q man, in our defense" Applause.